Three leg derrick construction



y 1952 H. w. SLATER 2,597,958

THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 26, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet l M 5% wa xm ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 H. w. SLATER THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 Fig; 3

HM 37 237522 56d;- 5. BY 7907 x ATTORNEYS y 1952 H. w. SLATER 2,597,958

THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION u Filed Aug. 26, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 27, 1952 H. w. SLATER THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 Fig. 6

Fig. 7

H- W SLATER JNVENTOR. BY M 5- ATTORNEYS May 27, 1952 H. w. SLATER THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 May 27, 1952 H. w. SLATER THREE LEG DERRICK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 awe/WM Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,597,958 138E 2 LEG D RR CON UCT ON Henry W. Slater, Victoria, Tex. hhl wfi Au s 26 .6. @1 9- ?3a9? (o1. reg-11 The inve ion e a e f q a Po tab drilling rig and a i u ar me w ch m d a minimum. i h m i o be ran o e In the drilling of wells by the rotary method, an 1. he'sgfvi s o w s it. i necessary o 11% a derr ck S P Q 'Q grown loc so t9- anii i lct v ha ri l pipe. ca and whine.

Va ious t es. o Per-table i ha e b e toiore devised, but the majority of them have embodied either two or rain; legs to. make up the. derrick The two leg portable derricks have hee'n found to. be quite' unstable. particularly where any substantial load pipe is to be hangl fi or wh r a su s an ial P llf s to be applied W he q i ment. 9 5 apparatus in the well bore. On the. otherhand, while the four leg derrick is satisfactory, it is cdmbersome to transport, embodies considerable equipment and a great deal of time to make up and tear down,

'lhe present invention contemplates a three leg portable derrick where one leg comprises a main mast which carries a crown block, double board and other equipment in such a manner that the two remaining legs may act primarily as brace n summons th m n a t It is one of the ob'jects of the invention to provide a portable derrick having a main mast which is extensible and collapsible and to which a secon r Pa o le s a b a x Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a mast for three leg portable derricks wherein the crown block and double board are connected th reto- Another hh et of the inte t i to id a able de r ck ha in a elesco i m ma to wh ch l dder e tion are e sn a man er o e m t e scopin 9; th add tions at the same time the mast Section is telescoped.

o r ob e t o th n ention i t fiix a crown block a d a rungaround lo the top of a main mast a o tabl d rric Stil anoth r h b e hi the i ven on, i t t has e of he h llow ipe l s of a orta l der ick as a s an P s Z i has r lin immis i a o her o ect of the'ih c io is to m: vide a telescoping mast ;for portable derricks wherein the double board is pivoted thereon so as t be m e to IL IiZQP IDQSiF Q- and connect d to s c nda y legs t that; the ns u tion pair of secondary legs may be aiiizged thereto to brace the main mast.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double board pivoted tof'the main mast of a portable derrick and which may be pivoted to horizontal position and'attached to a'pair of secondary legs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a main ma'st forfa' portable'derrick which can'bev telescoped'andthen tilted over to a'travel ing position upon a vehicle.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the'iollowing description is considered in connection withth'e accom:

panyingv drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic arrangement illustrating a derrick in operating position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view looking down on the crown block and run-around frame or brace thereabout;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the crown block, top of the main mast, andthe connection of the supporting legsthereto;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the main mast and looking down on the double board as it is supported in operatingposition;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the main mast, the secondary legs, and the double board;

Fig. 6 is a plan view looking down on the brace frame. which is supported in the derrick below the double board;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the brace frame;

Fig. 8 is a broken vertical sectional view of the telescoping arrangement for one of the sections of the main mast; I

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of one of he telescoping connections'of the lower por tion of the main mast;

Fig. 10 is a section"taken on the line. |llifl of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line H-H of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a broken detail sectional View of a modified form of the main mast wherein the sections are teleseopedby hydraulic pressure;

FigflS is a transverse sectional view show ing the clamping arrangement for aifixing .the

main mast to the vehicle Fig. 141s a sectional view illustrating the manner of adjustment of this clamp of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 shows the end of one of the auxiliary legs and ill s rates he manner o a usting it t the level f r the derrick an'd {also illustrating the c e on ftfie l ll gm 's'o' hist us he Fig. 16 shows a boomer clamp for clamping the main mast on the vehicle in traveling position;

Fig. 17 shows a side view of the boomer clamp of Fig. 16.

In Figure l a vehicle 2 of suitable construction serves to transport the main portion of the derrick. This truck is provided with a pair of braces or trunnions 3 having the pivot 4 therein. The main mast is indicated generally at 5 and is shown in Fig. 1 in extended position. The lower section 6 thereof is affixed to the pivot 4 so that this section may be tilted to the dotted line position at 8. A foundation block 9 may be insertedv under the foot it of the mast to rigidly support the load applied to the mast and to relieve the vehicle thereof.

Telescopically arranged relative to the lower section 6 of the mast is the intermediate section I I and the upper section I2. All of these sections are made up of pipe and are of such size that they may be telescoped one within the other.

In order to effect the telescoping movement of these sections, Figs. 8 through 12 illustrate the arrangement of structure and as seen in Fig. 9 the lower section 6 of the mast 5 is of a size to receive the intermediate section II. A cap or closure I4 is arranged over the upper end of the section B so as to guide the section I I. A support or cross rod l5 through the section 6 serves to support the intermediate section H. Removal of this bar will allow telescoping of the sections.

The lower end of the section I I, as best seen in Fig. 9, carries a, pulley i] and a somewhat similar pulley I8 is mounted .on the mast section 6. A

- cable or flexible member 19 passing over these pulleys will serve to extend or permit collapsing of the adjacent section.

Fig. 8 shows a-similar arrangement for the upper section (2 of the main mast relative to the intermediate section ll.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section illustrating the pulley l8 and the pipe section therein which is being telescoped.

Fig. 12 is a modified form of the arrangement wherein the pulleys and cable have been omitted and a piston head 25 afixed on the lower end of the pipe section H or 2 has been substituted therefor. This piston 20 has small ports 2| therein and a sealing member 22 which has small orifices or ports 23 therein communicating with ports 2|. This piston forms a seal inside of the base section 6 and it is therefore possible to apply liquid pressure in the base section beneath this piston in such a volume that it will raise the intermediate section so that it may be caught and pinned with the cross bar 25. Liquid leaking through the passages 2! will move into the intermediate section 1 I and be exerted against a similar piston on the lower end of the upper section 12.

Fig. 3 shows the top of the mast 5 and illustrates the upper section 12 thereof as having a crown block 25 amxed thereon. This crown block is in the form of a plurality of spaced plates 25 carrying the cross pins 2?, 28, 29 and 38. Various wheels and pulleys are supported by these cross pins for manipulation of the cable and the cross pin 21 is arranged to have the legs 3! and 32 separably connected at 33 on the opposite ends of such pin so that they will be firmly positioned to serve as braces for the main mast. The frame work 34 is generally known as a runaround and has the flooringtfi'andthe railing 36. This run-around is also afiixed to the crown block and the main mast. Each of the mast sections 4 6 and I l and I2 have a length of ladder 40 aflixed thereof. These ladder sections are of decreasing size on each mast section so that as the mast sec tions telescope, the ladders will telescope each into the next larger section.

As will be seen in Fig. 1 legs 31 and 32 are each constructed of a plurality of pipe sections which are separably coupled together by means of suitable couplings 62, the several sections of each leg being substantially equalin lengthto the corresponding main mast sections. This sectional construction, together with the connections 33 for separably connecting the legs to the crown block, permit the legs to be removed when the 'derrick is to-be lowered and to be attached when the mast is erected. By this sectional construction the legs may also be adjusted in length to correspond to whatever height the mast may be extended in operation in order to effectively brace the latter and complete the derrick when erected. When the derrick is to be lowered, the legs 3| and 32 are disconnected from the crown block and may be broken downin their several sections for storage on the truck during transportation. 2

Supported also on the main mast and particularly on the upper end of the intermediatesection H is the double board 42. This board is seen in plan view in Fig. 4 andis made up of a frame 43 which is pivoted on a shaft 44 inserted intoa tubular bracket 45 afl-lxedto the mast section H. The connection of frame 43 to shaft 54 is separable so that .the double board may be reand has the recesses 5| thereinto'receive the pipe as it is pulled over by the derrick man; This floor 50 may tilt upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5, if a coupling should be hooked underneath it.

In order to support the double board as seen in Fig. 4 -the frame 43 has the slots 53 therein which fit about the derrick legs 3| and 32 respectively and may be suitably clamped in position on legs 3| and 32 by the clamps 55. In order toremove the double board from the derrick preparatory to lowering the mast for transportation, the clamps 55 are released and frame .43 disconnected from shaft 44.

Below the double boardon the main mast is the brace frame 51 which canjberemovably afconnections of double board 42.

Both double board 42 and brace frame 5l will be removed from the derrickv structure when the structure. is to be lowered for transportation.

A feature of the particular advantage in a port-v.

able derrick of this sort which saves considerable trouble in erecting and tearing down, is theprovision of a stand pipe which is embodied in the leg 32 as best seen in Fig. 1. In the rotary method of drilling, mud is circulated into and out of the Well bore by suitable pumps and is introduced into the drill stem 58 through a swivel 59 by means of ahose 6D. .Inwview .of the fact that the swivel must. be raised and lowered during. the

operation. there. must be. considerable lengthfoij hose 60 available. In order to reduce this length of hose, a. connection 61 for drilling; fluid has been. made in the leg 32 as best seen in Fig.v 1.5.. The leg is hollow to form a reservoir 63 andv the drilling mud moves upwardly where it may discharge through the outlet 64 into the hose 60. This method eliminates a considerable length of hose, clamps, and equipment, and facilitates the operation.

In order to adjust the legs 3| and 32, eachof them is provided with a foot-piece 65 threaded at 66 into the base of a coupling 61.

In actual operation, a derrick of the type herein described has actually operated to drill wells of considerable depth, to service wells, and to pull pipe from the wells in an emcient and economical manner. When the parts are telescoped and arranged as described, the parts are short enough for transport. To permit quick erection, the many separate pieces of equipment are dispensed with as one of the legs acts as a stand pipe, the ladders telescope with the mast sections, and the crown block, runaround and double board are all carried by the main mast.

When the derrick is to be erected, the vehicle 2 will back up to a position adjacent the location and by suitable block and tackle connection (not shown) to the lower section 6 of the main mast the lower end thereof will be drawn downwardly about the pivot 4 until the mast approaches a vertical position. The end of the vehicle 2 is seen in Fig. 13 as supporting a threaded spindle l threaded through a bushing H. Adjusting spools 12 on the spindle can be turned to either extend or retract the shaft 10. This shaft carries a clamp 14 which can be pinned around the main mast 6 as seen in Fig. 1. Thus, when the mast is moved to substantially vertical position, the clamp will be extended and affixed around the mast. The vehicle can be properly anchored and then the spools 12 adjusted so as to tilt the main mast the desired amount so that the hoisting equipment will support the drill pipe and swivel directly over the location where the well is to be drilled, or the well itself where a well is to be serviced.

The foundation block 9 can then be positioned and it is by means of this adjustment that the mast is centered over the well.

When the main mast has been erected and positioned, as described, the brace legs 3| and 32 will be raised and their upper ends connected to pin 2'! and positioned to form the desired tripod structure. Foot pieces 65 may then be adjusted to level the structure. The double board 42 will then be raised into the tripod derrick thus formed and frame 43 will first be pivotally connected to shaft 44 and then will be swung upwardly about the pivot thus formed until legs 3| and 32 are received in slots 53 and clamped therein by means of clamps 55. Double board 42 will thus serve as a transverse stiffening brace in the upper portion of the structure. Brace frame 51 will then be similarly connected to base section 6 and swung into horizontal position and connected to legs 3! and 32 by means of clamps 55a, thereby forming a second transverse stiffening brace for the lower portion of the derrick.

When the derrick is to be lowered, brace frame 51 and double board 42 will be removed. Legs 3| and 32 will be disconnected from crown block 26 and broken down into their component sections. Mast will then be retracted and rotated to the position shown in broken lines at 8 in Fig. 1 in position for transportation by the truck. The

less: 3 1 and 32:. and, double board 42. and. brace frame 51 will be suitably stored; in the truck and the derrick will thereby be ready for transportation to: another-location- Figs. 16 and 17 show a clamp 16 having the linkage l1 and: lever 1-8 whereby the main mast 5 will be clamped; to the support frame 19 on the vehicle so as to anchor the mast in traveling position.

The main mast need not be fully extended for certain operations. Of course, in a drilling operation a rig of this type could handle doubles or at least two thirty foot lengths of drill pipe, but very often in servicing a well, that is, in pulling the tubing or casing or in reworking a well, only single lengths of pipe are handled. Under such conditions the main mast need not be fully extended. For instance, the section l2 need not be extended and the crown block would then be positioned at the top of the section I I. Or, if a tremendous pull were desired and a great deal of strength in the main mast found to be necessary, the section I need not be extended and the crown block would then be positioned at the elevation of the top of the section 6. The main mast could be tilted as desired. In view of the foregoing it seems obvious that the assembly adapts itself for various circumstances and conditions and eliminates a great deal of equipment now generally employed in connection with portable derricks of this sort.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable derrick, comprising, a truck, a. trunnion thereon, a main mast, said mast includ ing a plurality of coaxially arranged telescoping pipe sections, the lowermost one of said sections having pivotal connection to said trunnion for rotation thereon between horizontal and generally upright positions, means to extend said sections, a crown block fixedly mounted on the outer end of the uppermost one of said sections, a pair of tubular brace legs having their upper ends separably connected to said crown block and extending angularly therefrom to form with said mast a tripod structure, and a pair of longitudinally spaced brace frames extending transversely between said mast and said brace legs, each of said brace frames having separable means pivotally connecting one side thereof to said mast, and clamp means releasably connecting the other side thereof to both said brace legs.

2. A portable derrick, comprising, a truck, a trunnion thereon, a main mast, said mast including a plurality of coaxially arranged telescoping pipe sections, the lowermost one of said sections having pivotal connections at an intermediate point thereof to said trunnion for rotation be tween horizontal and generally upright positions, the lower end portion of said lowermost section extending beyond the end of said truck, clamping means connecting said truck to said lower portion when the mast is in erect position, said clamping means including adjusting elements for adjusting the angular position of said mast with respect to the vertical, means to extend said sections, a crown block fixedly mounted on the outer end of the uppermost one of said sections, a pair of tubular brace legs having their upper ends separably connected to said crown block and extending angularly therefrom to form with said mast a tripod structure, and a pair of longitudinally spaced brace frames extending transversely between said mast and' said brace legs, each of said brace frames having separable means pivotally connecting one side thereof to said mast, and

clamp means releasably connecting the other side thereof to both said brace legs.

W. SLATER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nagle Oct. 9, 1945 

